I was looking for ways to get my interior a little warmer. My rig is my daily driver and it seems like it takes an hour before it starts making a little heat, and to boot it is only kind of warm. I have the bulkhead sealed up pretty well, it just doesn't get too warm. I have heard of folks cutting a bigger hole in the bulkhead to flow more air and thus more heat in the winter but I am not keen on that fix though I am sure it probably helps. I was in Harbor Freight yesterday and stumbled across a 12v aux heater/defroster that plugs into the aux/cigarette port. Now my rig gets toasty warm in just a few minutes and I didn't have to perform reconstructive surgery on my bulkhead. Call me a happy camper. Figured I would throw that out there to those who wanted to get some warm driving time on the cold days. At around $14 it is well worth it.

I was looking for ways to get my interior a little warmer. My rig is my daily driver and it seems like it takes an hour before it starts making a little heat, and to boot it is only kind of warm. I have the bulkhead sealed up pretty well, it just doesn't get too warm. I have heard of folks cutting a bigger hole in the bulkhead to flow more air and thus more heat in the winter but I am not keen on that fix though I am sure it probably helps. I was in Harbor Freight yesterday and stumbled across a 12v aux heater/defroster that plugs into the aux/cigarette port. Now my rig gets toasty warm in just a few minutes and I didn't have to perform reconstructive surgery on my bulkhead. Call me a happy camper. Figured I would throw that out there to those who wanted to get some warm driving time on the cold days. At around $14 it is well worth it.

------ Follow up post added November 21st, 2017 01:05 PM ------

I forgot to mention that it pulls less amps than my heater blower.

Bigger hole means more air at a lower pressure - not more heat...

Hav you looked at refurbishing or replacing the heater box - likely the heater core is full of 30 years with of crap.

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I refurbed it with a new core when I did my resto. It makes heat eventually, but this thing makes heat immediately.

Your secondary heat source is a good helper - most people don't address the underlying issue with the Tdi in that it doesn't run hot enough in the winter to make good heat until it's been under load for a reasonable amount of time. Blocking the radiator can shorten the time it takes to warm up. A good condition heater matrix and well sealed heater box will ensure that what little heat is produced is effectively transferred to the cabin.

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Get a rad muff from RN. It will make a big difference. You can also install a block heater. I use one with a timer. Comes on at 4am. It's nice and warm at 7:30 when I leave for work. Also a nice and easy start up and heat right away.

Sounds like there are some good options out there. This one is quick and easy. I havenít thought much about a radiator muff or block heater since I left Jackson, WY. I may look into those. For now the wife and kids will be happy with the little electric guy I just bought.

Step 1 - Make sure the thermostat is not leaking. The upper rad hose should be cool until the engine reaches normal operating temperature.

Step 2 - Make sure the heater hot/cold flap (lever on the top) is holding the flap tight to the hot side.

Step 3 - Make sure all door and vent seals are good.

Step 4 - Overhaul heater.

Step 5 - Add Insulations.

Rad covers are bandaids. Fix the root cause.

Check on all above. It gets warm, it just takes a while. My work is 4 miles from home. My kids school is 7 miles from home. By the time I get my daughter to school it is getting warm inside. If I crank it when I get up around 45 min before I leave it is a little warm, but the temp hand is still only about half way to vertical when I start down the road. I like this heater for the siimple fact that it makes heat right away. I feel pretty sure that eveything works as it should, it just gets warmer, and warmer faster with this little gadget. I figured for the guys up north it would be something good to know. The coldest I have ever seen it in my home town was -1. Most years it doesn't get below 15 on the coldest days.

I go to workout at 5am and the gym is 6 miles away. By the time I get to the gym it is getting warm. After 2 hours it is cold again and gets warm just before I get home. I guess my point is that most of my trips are short and cold because it takes a while for this thing to warm up.

------ Follow up post added November 21st, 2017 10:10 PM ------

Quote:

Originally Posted by woldd90

Wear an extra coat and a pair of gloves. This morning was 30 degrees, but now it's 67.

Excessive idling and warm up periods are widely controversial as a result of the phenomenon in compression ignition engines known as "wet stacking". Wet stacking is the process by which relatively cool combustion temperatures results in an incomplete combustion event. When this occurs, partially and unburnt fuel has a tendency to stick to the cylinder walls, through which a portion of the contaminants will enter the engine crankcase. Fuel in the crankcase is typically known as fuel dilution, and since diesel fuel has nowhere near the lubricity of engine oil it can lead to excessive wear in extreme cases. It's worth noting that fuel dilution is invertible in a diesel engine - since it's impossible to avoid entirely, it's necessary to take certain steps in order to reduce the degree to which it occurs.